Now in its Third Edition, Young Investigators provides an introduction to the project approach with step-by-step guidance for conducting meaningful investigations with young children. The authors have expanded their bestseller to include two new chapters– How Projects Can Connect Children with Nature and Project Investigations as STEM Experiences–and to provide more help to teachers of the youngest children (toddlers) and older children (2nd grade). The new edition also shows teachers how to use standards in the topic selection process and identifies activities and experiences that will help children grasp key concepts and skills. Throughout the text, readers listen to teachers’ concerns, witness how they find solutions to challenges, and experience how excited children become during project work. This book is appropriate for those new to using the Project Approach, as well as for teachers who already have experience with implementing the Project Approach. Book Features: Examples of projects from child care centers and preschool, K-2, and special education classrooms. Instructions for incorporating standards and STEM skills into project work. A variety of experiences to help children connect to the natural world. Toddler projects that reflect knowledge from recent mind/brain research. Tools for integrating required curriculum goals and for assessing achievement. A Teacher Project Planning Journal that leads teachers through the major decision points of project work. Full-color photographs of children engaged with projects. A study guide for pre- and inservice teachers (available at tcpress.com).

This full-color guide has been expanded to guide today’s teachers through the process of conducting meaningful investigations with young children. This fourth edition of Young Investigators begins with a new chapter, “How Children Really Learn,” which summarizes insights from mind-brain education research, showing how experiences firmly rooted in children’s curiosity and interest build intellectual capacity. The book then introduces the Project Approach with step-by-step guidance for incorporating child initiation and direction into curriculum while simultaneously addressing content standards. A new focus on critical Teacher Decision Points uses fresh-from-the-classroom examples to show how teachers think through project work. Also, for this edition, the emphasis on STEM experiences has been expanded to include STEAM. Young Investigators makes project-based learning possible with younger children ( toddlers through 2nd grade) who are not yet proficient in reading and writing, but capable of deep, focused thinking. Throughout, readers empathize with teachers’ concerns, witness how they find solutions to challenges, and feel the excitement of children during project work. This perennial bestseller is appropriate for teachers new to using the Project Approach, as well as for those who already have experience. Book Features: Examples of projects from child care centers and preschool, K-2, and special education classrooms. Instructions for incorporating standards and STEAM skills into project work. A variety of experiences to help children connect to the natural world. Toddler projects that reflect knowledge from recent mind-brain research. Tools for integrating required curriculum goals and for assessing achievement. A Teacher Project Planning Journal that leads teachers through the major decision points of project work. Full-color photographs of children engaged with projects. A study guide for pre- and inservice teachers (available at www.tcpress.com).